Ibadan Mogajis pledge allegiance to Olubadan-designate

FAMILY heads in Ibadan, also known as Ibadan Mogajis, on Thursday, visited the  Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, and pledged their allegiance to him.

The exercise was in fulfilment of the Ibadan tradition upon the nomination of Olakulehin as the Olubadan-designate.

The Mogajis were led by the Aare Egbe Mogaji, Asimiyu Ariori, to the private residence of Oba Olakulehin in the Alalubosa Government Reserved Area, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The PUNCH reports that the Olubadan-In-Council nominated and forwarded the name of Oba Olakulehin to the state government, after an April 16 selection meeting called by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, at Oja’ba Palace in Ibadan.

The stool became vacant after the demise of Oba Lekan Balogun, who reigned for two years before joining his ancestors at the age of 81 years.

Speaking during their visit to the Olubadan-designate, the Mogajis, speaking through Ariori, pledged their support to the monarch and prayed for sound health and long life during his reign.

The Mogajis also sought the permission of the Olubadan-designate to visit the Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, in line with the tradition, noting that the same was done to the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, after they visited the 42nd Olubadan, the late Oba Lekan Balogun, upon nomination.

Oba Olakulehin, who in his response, granted their request and appreciated the Mogajis for the visit, prayed that each of them would fulfil their desires on the path to the Olubadan throne.

The younger brother of the monarch, Chief Osuolale Owolabi, thanked the Mogajis for their pledge of support and obeisance to the Olubadan-designate.

Delta bloodbath: Villagers shun Reps hearing

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence were in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, for the scheduled investigative hearing into the killing of 17 military personnel at Okuama community, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The investigative hearing was in line with the resolution of the House during its sitting on March 19 to investigate the remote causes of the incident.

The PUNCH reports that 17 military personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors and a Captain, were ambushed and killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen while they were in Okuama on a peacekeeping mission.

Following the incident, military personnel, in what was considered to be a reprisal, demolished and razed houses in the Okuama riverine community, with residents taking refuge in the neighbouring bushes of Ewu Kingdom.

The House committee members, led by Babajimi Benson, arrived at the sitting venue at the Government House Annex, Edjeba, in Warri South Local Government Area of the state, at about 10.45 a.m. but waited endlessly for indigenes of the troubled Okuama community to make their presentations.

However, while the waiting lasted, sources said the villagers failed to show up for “fear of arrest or intimidation by the military.”

However, the committee chairman, while addressing journalists, said the committee had received useful memoranda on the incident from some stakeholders.

The House committee members, led by Babajimi Benson, arrived at the sitting venue at the Government House Annex, Edjeba, in Warri South Local Government Area of the state, at about 10.45 a.m. but waited endlessly for indigenes of the troubled Okuama community to make their presentations.

However, while the waiting lasted, sources said the villagers failed to show up for “fear of arrest or intimidation by the military.”

However, the committee chairman, while addressing journalists, said the committee had received useful memoranda on the incident from some stakeholders.

Benson also disabused the minds of Okuama indigenes who might be worried about their safety, assuring them that “there would be no witch-hunt whatsoever.”

He advised members of the public who are willing to submit a memorandum to do so in 10 copies and submit the same to the committee within one week.

He said they could submit such memoranda to the clerk of the committee, Musa Aliyu at the National Assembly, Abuja, or at the public investigative hearing.

He said, “The House of Representatives Committee on Defence looks forward to a robust engagement and meaningful contributions from all stakeholders.

“We came in yesterday (Tuesday). We met Governor Oborevwori and we told him our mission. We’re here today (Wednesday) to see members of the community on camera and by way of memoranda.

“We’ve received a lot of memoranda from them but they’ve not turned out physically. The window is extended for a week. So we’re still expecting a lot more memorandum from the people of Okuama community.

“We’ve assured the governor and the people that we have the full backing of the House of Representatives to ensure that this matter is reviewed from both sides and followed to a logical conclusion.”

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